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The largest roundup of the year

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

As you’re reading this, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is continuing to round up wild horses in Nevada’s East Pershing Complex. Since the roundup began in late December, over a thousand of these incredible animals have been subjected to dangerous helicopter chases and inhumane treatment by BLM contractors in the largest scheduled roundup of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.

So far, over 1,700 of the nearly 3,000 wild horses slated for removal have been captured. Nearly 20 innocent horses have already lost their lives during this operation, including a young foal who was euthanized at the capture site for an injury he suffered while being chased and roped by BLM wranglers.

Blood-spattered tarping at offsite temporary holding

AWHC has boots on the ground at the roundup to ensure people know what’s happening to the East Pershing wild horses. But that’s the thing – had our humane observer not been onsite to bear witness to and document stories like this foal’s, it’s possible the brutality our wild horses face would not be brought to light.

That’s why our observation work is so critical to our mission at AWHC. We’re fighting to end federal helicopter roundups, but until they’re stopped, we need to ensure accountability and transparency within our government’s operations. Through our observation program, we’re able to collect the evidence we need to expose the cruel nature of helicopter roundups. Will you power our roundup observation work by chipping in a contribution and helping us support our dedicated humane observers?

DONATE

This foal’s tragic story is just one of many coming out from the East Pershing roundup. Days prior, BLM contractors herded a large number of horses into a trap, causing them to panic and attempt to escape – almost breaking through the panels.

Our observer captured footage of this incident. The same day, we captured footage showing a helicopter flying dangerously close to the horses’ heads, as well as unnecessary agitation by BLM contractors post-capture.

All of our roundup documentation is critical to establishing the need for reform and is essential to educating Congress and the American public. But, this is just the first of many roundups scheduled for FY 2024. We need to ensure we have the resources to send our observers to as many of these operations as possible so that no violation or mistreatment goes unrecorded. Will you chip in to support our observation program?

DONATE

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Campaign

SIGN ON: Demand transparency at federal wild horse and burro roundups

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Right now, thousands of wild horses in Nevada are being chased by helicopters in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) ongoing roundup in the East Pershing Complex.

In the two weeks since the roundup began, the death toll has already reached double digits – including a young foal who was euthanized for an injury he suffered while being roped by BLM wranglers.

Tragedies like this are all too common during these inhumane removals. But had it not been for our AWHC humane observer who was on site to bear witness and document this heartbreaking story, it’s possible the full cruelty this foal faced would never have been brought to the public’s attention.

That’s why we’re renewing our calls for the BLM to place cameras on all helicopters and wranglers to ensure the public is fully aware of what the government is doing to these innocent animals. We’re also urging them to make those recordings publicly available to allow for increased transparency and accountability. Will you join us in making these demands by sending a letter to the BLM today?

TAKE ACTION

The East Pershing Complex is just the first of many wild horse and burro helicopter roundups this year. The BLM has begun its plan to remove up to 1,000 burros from the Black Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA) in Arizona – the largest wild burro roundup of 2024.

These operations are often very traumatic for burros, and this herd has been particularly mistreated in past roundups. In fact, the BLM’s own Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) review of the 2022 Black Mountain roundup showed violations such as hitting wild horses and burros in an abusive manner, and even the use of an electric cattle prod on the captured animals.

“During the process of loading the semi-trailer, one individual on the contractor’s crew appeared to be frustrated and angry. The individual used a shaker paddle in an abusive manner, including aggressively hitting and jabbing the paddle into the sides and sensitive areas of burros, and eventually using the handle end to aggressively poke and prod the burros.” – Excerpt from the BLM’s CAWP review of the 2022 Black Mountain roundup

We’re fighting to end this inhumane treatment of our wild herds, but until we can bring about the lasting change these innocent animals need, we need to ensure accountability and transparency within our federal government and its operations.

Installing cameras on all wranglers and helicopters used during BLM roundups will ensure that the agency can’t hide any mistreatment of wild horses and burros from the public. Please use your voice and join us in calling for cameras to be placed on all BLM helicopters and wranglers! It will only take thirty seconds of your time!

TAKE ACTION

Thank you,

Team AWHC

Help us pick our official 2024 AWHC Member Card!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Can you help us pick our 2024 AWHC Member Card?

We’re asking dedicated American Wild Horse Campaign supporters like you to cast your vote and help us select the design for our official 2024 AWHC Member Card!

Option # 1

Option #2

Option #3

A 2024 AWHC Member Card is a great way to show off your dedication to protecting America’s wild herds. Will you cast your vote and let us know which design is your favorite? We’ll be announcing the winner next Friday!

VOTE

– American Wild Horse Campaign

SURVEY REQUEST: Help us set our priorities for wild horses and burros in 2024 →

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

As we start the new year, our team is not only reflecting on the impact we made in 2023, but also on how we can continue our momentum in 2024 – and we would like your input. 

From expanding support for fertility control programs to other wild horse herds across the West, to the launch of our groundbreaking Land Conservancy Project and acquisition of over 3,300 acres of prime habitat in Nevada, we made tangible progress in advancing the cause of wild horse and burro conservation last year.

These remarkable wins are worth celebrating, but until our beloved wild herds can live out their days wild and free, there is still much to be done. So, our team is busy setting our priorities for 2024 – and, as one of our most dedicated AWHC supporters, we want your valued input.

Will you take our 2024 priorities survey and let us know what issue area you believe are most important to take on this year?

EXPANDING IN-THE-WILD CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, SUCH AS HUMANE FERTILITY CONTROL
EXPANDING LAND CONSERVANCY MANAGEMENT AND LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAMS
PASSING STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR WILD HORSES AND BURROS IN CONGRESS
SUPPORTING MORE RESCUE EFFORTS FOR AT-RISK WILD HORSES AND BURROS
EDUCATING PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF WILD HORSES AND HOW THEY CAN HELP
ADVANCING LEGAL PROTECTIONS
INVESTIGATING AND EXPOSING THE HARSH REALITY WILD HERDS FACE AT THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNMENT
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WILD HORSE HERDS

2023’s successes were made possible because of supporters like you. And we know we can build on these wins in the year ahead — but only if we work together.

We want to know: What issue areas do you believe are most important to take on this year? Take our 2024 priorities survey and let us know! →

Thanks,

Team AWHC

Can you give $30 to fuel our humane fertility control program?

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

My name is Tracy Wilson, and I am AWHC’s Nevada State Director. As part of my job, I oversee one of the most important conservation initiatives that we implement, our PZP fertility control vaccine program on the Virginia Range in Nevada. This world-leading program proves there is an alternative to inhumane helicopter roundups, which keeps wild horses in the wild where they belong.

It costs just $30 for a vaccine to dart a single mare with PZP fertility control. Can you donate $30 to cover the cost of one fertility control vaccine for a mare?

DONATE $30

Far too many wild horses and burros are in danger because the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is continuing an unsustainable, inhumane path, conducting mass roundups and removals, all while overlooking the consequences of this unsuccessful cycle.

On the Virginia Range, our groundbreaking PZP program has seen a 66% reduction in foal births in 2023 compared to 2020. This program ensures that the Virginia Range horses, whose habitat is shrinking due to rapid development in the area, stay wild and free.

This hard-hitting data has helped us demonstrate to the BLM, Congress, and the public that there is a humane way to manage our wild herds. It’s scientifically sound and keeps these innocent animals in the wild, where they belong. No helicopter roundups, and no holding pens.

There’s a better way to keep mustangs wild, but the BLM needs to implement it. You can make a true impact on the lives of these wild horses with just a $30 donation to pay for a PZP vaccine for a mare. >>

We’re incredibly proud of this program, and its resounding effects for wild horse conservation. That’s why today we’re asking: Can you chip in $30 to help us fund the PZP program that has kept so many wild horses wild?

DONATE $30

With the BLM planning even more mass roundups in Fiscal Year 2024, we’re proposing alternative solutions that are proven to work. We know that this is an important cause, and we couldn’t do it without your help.

We set a goal to raise $200,000 for our end-of-year fundraising because that’s what it’s going to take to keep us on track and fighting to protect America’s wild herds in 2024. With innovative initiatives like the PZP fertility control program, you can make a difference with just a $30 donation. Please, can you chip in $30 today?

DONATE $30
DONATE MORE

Thank you for your support,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracy Wilson
Nevada State Director

That day was the last time I saw my family

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Hi there — my name is Nellie, I’m the tiny foal being chased by a big helicopter in the photo below.

I haven’t seen my family since the day this photo was taken last year, and I’m so scared and lonely without them. Here’s what happened: 

My herd was grazing peacefully on our home range (Twin Peaks, in California) when these loud machines descended from the sky. The whole thing was a panicked blur. Throughout the entire chase, all I could hear was the deafening whirr of the terrifying helicopter. I struggled to keep up with my mom and the rest of my family, as we were running for a very long time in the high summer heat and across rocky terrain. After what felt like forever, I was chased into a metal trap, with walls much taller than me.

I barely made it out alive that day, and I’m lucky I did — my friends at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) told me that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the federal government agency that rounded us up, reported that there were 31 deaths: All were members of my herd. But AWHC’s work didn’t end once the helicopters landed. Their investigations team dug in and uncovered that 69 additional members of my herd lost their lives in the days and months after the “roundup” and at least 14 of them were babies just like me, with their wild lives cut tragically short.

Now, I’ve heard that what happened to me is going to happen to my herd again next summer, and to more than 20,000 other horses and burros in 2024.

My friends at AWHC are doing everything they can to fight back and defend us. Can you help them? They need to raise $200,000 by the end of the year to be ready for the fight. Luckily, a group of generous individuals have offered to match donations up to $125,000 to help them do it — so whatever you give will go twice as far.

DONATE TO PROTECT MY HERD

Friend, even for foals like me who survived the initial roundup, many of us suffered greatly or succumbed to our injuries in the days following. AWHC uncovered these vet records from the aftermath of my herd’s roundup:

“This foal arrived at the Litchfield Corrals so tired and so sore it could barely move. Suspect this foals death was from the stress of being run long distances in rough terrain and in high temperatures”

“Dr. (REDACTED), DVM, stated that these foals are foundering due to being run too far during the gather”

“3‐4 month old foal found dead in mare/foal pen. Necropsy showed no obvious cause of death, possible stress from gather”

If AWHC wasn’t there to document the day the “helicopters” chased my herd and my family, nobody would know about what’s happening to wild horses and burros like me. And if they hadn’t done their investigative work through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), nobody would know about our suffering in the aftermath.

Friend, AWHC is standing up for me and all wild horse herds across the West, both out in the field and on Capitol Hill. We are counting on AWHC to be our last line of defense, and to ensure our freedom for generations to come, but they need your support to keep fighting. Can you make a 2X matched contribution before the end of the year to help them?

MAKE A DONATION NOW

Thank you for listening to my story, and for standing up for those who don’t have a voice.

Nellie the Foal

Fighting for our cherished wild burros

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) inhumane and costly approach to wild horse management often gets a lot of attention, but the plight of wild burros can be overlooked. At the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), we’re committed to giving these remarkable animals the attention they deserve. 

Today, we’d like to tell you the story of Jolene and Porter. But first, we have a crucial ask. Can you chip in to help us hit our $200,000 end-of-year fundraising goal? Every donation helps us make a difference in the lives of wild horses and burros, and we need your support to continue our important programs in 2024.

Photo by Steve Paige

Jolene and her baby Porter are from the Porter Springs Herd Management Area (HMA) – which Porter is named after – located in Nevada’s 2.2 million acre Blue Wing Complex. For years, thousands of wild burros and wild horses roamed these lands freely. But the photo you see above was taken just before a massive roundup in 2022 that changed the lives of many of these animals forever.

Over 800 burros and 1,000 horses were chased down by helicopters and captured in the 2022 Blue Wing Complex roundup. Even worse, the BLM publicly reported that 12 deaths occurred during the operation – including many older burros who had lived their entire lives wild and free, only to be rounded up and needlessly euthanized due to conditions like “pre-existing fractures.”

The BLM is now coming for their herd again in 2024. The agency is planning to round up over 300 wild burros in July, and there’s no telling whether burros like Jolene and Porter will be able to remain free.

AWHC is the last line of defense for these innocent animals. We’re fighting in the field, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill to put an end to helicopter roundups and to conserve the lands that wild burros and horses inhabit. Can you please chip in to support our work to end the suffering of our wild herds? Your support means so much to us, and to burros like Jolene and Porter.

The trauma of the Blue Wing Complex did not end when the roundup did, Meredith. AWHC’s investigations team dug further into the story of what happened both during and after the roundup. We got to work filing critical Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to expose the truth about the consequences of BLM helicopter roundups, and it was far worse than what the agency told the public.

Our FOIA requests revealed that in little more than a month, 31 Blue Wing burros died from Lipemia/Hyperlipidemia — a deadly and preventable blood disease that burros are particularly vulnerable to, often induced by extreme stress and nutritional deprivation. This stress, caused by helicopter roundups, leads to some burros losing their will to live, ceasing to eat, and wasting away. In addition to the 31 deaths, another six burros bled to death due to gelding complications.

That’s a total of 37 burros whose deaths would have been hidden were it not for the vital work of AWHC’s investigations team. We’re fighting to stop helicopter roundups and to secure the humane conservation of our wild herds. But until we make that happen, we must continue to expose the full impacts of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program and hold the agency accountable. Can you chip in towards our End-of-Year goal to help us continue this important work?

DONATE TODAY →

Thank you for standing up for our wild burros!

– Team AWHC

Can you help us cover the cost of an emergency roadside kit?

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

My name is Steve. I am a fertility control darter for Nevada’s Virginia Range program, and a roundup observer for the American Wild Horse Campaign. As AWHC told you this morning, thousands of Nevada’s wild horses will be chased by government helicopters and rounded up in the coming days.

I often trek out to the far corners of the West to bear witness to the intense scenes unfolding as the sound of the helicopter cuts through normally serene desert landscapes. Hundreds to thousands of wild horses are relentlessly driven from freedom to confinement in a heartbreaking display of cruelty.

My boots-on-the-ground role as a roundup observer is rooted in the core of our mission and is fueled by AWHC’s Observation Fund, which is powered by supporters like you. By having me and our team of field representatives on the ground observing the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) cruel helicopter roundups, we can ensure any inhumane treatment does not go undocumented and unaddressed

Your support of AWHC’s Observation Fund helps send observers, like me, into the field to hold the BLM accountable and build a case for substantial reform in Congress. Here’s an example of how your support has an impact on our work to document roundups.

➡ $75 covers the cost of an emergency roadside kit. We carry these in case we run into an emergency – which has happened before in these remote areas without cell phone service.
➡ $100 covers daily fuel costs to drive to these highly remote public lands where the BLM conducts its roundups.
➡ $200 covers two nights in a motel for us as sometimes we stay days to weeks in the field as the roundups continue.
➡ $1,000 covers the cost of vehicle repairs and off-road tire replacements that are necessary to reach the remote BLM observation points.

Oftentimes, we AWHC representatives are the ONLY members of the public on site to document these federal operations and hold the BLM accountable. We are your eyes and ears, and the photographs and videos we capture are the public’s window into the reality faced by our wild horses and burros in these remote regions of the West.

The AWHC team and our roundup observers are working in overdrive to hold the BLM accountable. We documented nearly every roundup last fiscal year and we need to hit our $200,000 end-of-year fundraising goal before Sunday at midnight to continue this work in 2024. With helicopters descending into roundups in rural Nevada right now, the wild horses need your help more than ever. Can you chip in to help AWHC continue sending observers like me out in the field ?

$75 → Emergency Roadside Kits
$100 → Fill Our
Fuel Tanks
$200 → Motel
Rooms
$1,000 → Vehicle Repairs

Thank you,

Steve Paige
Field Representative

Meredith, happy holidays!✨

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

On behalf of everyone at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), we wish you and your family a very happy and joyous holiday season!

Over the past decade, your unwavering support has transformed AWHC’s work to protect America’s wild horses and burros. 

Together, we’ve established the largest grassroots advocacy network ever for this cause. We’ve pioneered the world’s largest humane fertility control program, proving there’s a better way to protect these majestic animals. We’ve launched groundbreaking habitat conservation initiatives, established crucial legal precedents and championed legislative victories in California, Colorado and at the federal level. And we’re just getting started.

Your support and dedication mean so much to the cause of humane conservation, and we never take for granted the trust you have put in AWHC to be a leader in the fight to protect our magnificent wild horses and burros. 

So from our herd to yours, we hope you have a happy holiday season, and a healthy, joyous New Year!

With gratitude, 

Suzanne + the AWHC Team

P.S. As you’re thinking about your end-of-year giving, can you please consider the American Wild Horse Campaign? We have been able to do so much work this year, and it’s all thanks to your support. We need your help to continue this important work in 2024. You can make a donation using the button below.

DONATE

 

FWD: We’re almost there!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We wanted to share a big update on our end-of-year fundraising campaign. Our team crunched the numbers this morning, and we’re only $7,812 away from reaching our $50,000 goal to unlock our 2X matching offer!

DONATE →

unlocking this match is an opportunity we cannot let pass us by. Over 20,000 wild horses and burros are set to be rounded up by the federal government next year, and we need all the support we can get to ensure we’re able to step up for these animals – whether that’s in the fields, in the courts, or on CapitolHill.

Can you chip in before midnight tonight to help us reach our goal and unlock this critical 2X match for our end-of-year fundraising?

CHIP IN

– Team AWHC

Help us unlock a 2X match!
Can you help us unlock a 2X matching gift to help us continue our critical work saving wild horses and burros in 2024? We need to raise $50,000 before Friday at midnight to unlock this match.

DONATE →

Over the last few days, we’ve reflected on some incredible victories we’ve secured this year for our wild herds. But at the heart of all of these success stories is one key ingredient: you. 

Folks like you are the driving force behind our work to fight for our wild herds. When we raise awareness about what’s happening to wild horses and burros and mobilize the many thousands of people who want these incredible animals protected, we are able to move mountains.

DONATE →

For example, our campaign to raise awareness about the pointless and cruel nature of the McCullough Peaks wild horse removal generated over 200,000 emails to key officials and touched more than 2 million members of the public. This public outcry put pressure on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and contributed to the agency’s decision to reduce the number of horses it plans to remove.

In North Dakota, our billboard and ad campaign to save the historic wild horse population who inhabit the popular Theodore Roosevelt National Park generated intense public opposition to a federal plan to eliminate the horses. This public outcry fueled opposition from the state’s political leadership and has created intense pressure to preserve these historic horses. 

And across the country, AWHC’s advertising and media campaigns raised public awareness of the cruelty of helicopter roundups. From our billboards in New York City’s Times Square to the compelling images and videos that our field observers have collected, our efforts have brought national attention to the issue of wild horse conservation.

We know that when people hear about what’s happening to wild horses and burros, they are outraged. It’s our job to continue building public awareness and the grassroots army necessary to rise up and advocate for the protection  of America’s mustangs and burros – but this work wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of folks like you. 

Your contributions enable us to continue shining a light on what’s happening to our wild herds, and we’re incredibly grateful to count you as one of our supporters. As we gear up to continue this important work in 2024, will you chip in to our end-of-year goal to fuel our awareness efforts next year? We still have one day left to raise $50,000 so we can unlock a massive 2X matching offer from one of our generous donors, and we need the help of everyone reading this to reach it! >>

DONATE →

Thank you,

Team AWHC

What we’ve achieved for wild horse conservation this year

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Help us unlock a 2X match!
Can you help us unlock a 2X matching gift to help us continue our critical work saving wild horses and burros in 2024? We need to raise $50,000 before Friday at midnight to unlock this match.

DONATE →

In addition to our legislative advocacy work, our growing field programs are a critical part of our mission to advance wild horse and burro conservation.

Today, we’re going to tell you about the great strides we’ve taken this year in this area – but first, please take a moment to chip in towards our end-of-year goal! We need to raise $50,000 by this Friday to unlock a generous 2X match offer from our gracious donors, and we’re over halfway there! >>

HELP UNLOCK OUR 2X MATCH  →

In 2023, we achieved several great victories for our on-range programs. First, we celebrated four years of our flagship PZP fertility control program on Nevada’s Virginia Range. This program has been a remarkable success, achieving the goal of vaccinating 80% of the mare population in less than four years, and reducing the foaling rate by 66% by the end of peak foaling season 2023 as compared to 2022. 

Through the successful implementation of PZP vaccine programs, we’re taking a significant step toward reshaping the future of wild horse conservation and proving that there is a better, more humane, and less costly way to manage wild horse populations. That’s why we’ve expanded our support of conservation efforts and of the implementation of fertility control programs to other wild horse herds. Can you please make a contribution to AWHC to help power these fertility control programs?

SUPPORT OUR FERTILITY CONTROL PROGRAMS →

Earlier this year, we secured a federal grant from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to support the humane fertility control program that we are implementing on wild horses in Utah’s Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area (HMA)! This collaborative effort involves the Utah BLM, the HMA ranching permittee, and AWHC working together to humanely manage the Cedar Mountain wild horses, conserve their habitat, and eliminate helicopter roundups.

Additionally, we are providing logistical, financial, and darting support for the fertility control program in Nevada’s Pine Nut Mountains. With our assistance, the program has darted over 40% of the mare population with at least one PZP vaccination. This success in darting these wild horses, who are not habituated to human presence, is further proving the feasibility of this approach to keeping wild horses wild and in balance with their environment.

2023 was clearly a big year for our fertility control programs, but perhaps our most exciting achievement this year was the launch of our Land Conservancy Project – an innovative new initiative that will preserve and enhance key habitats for America’s wild herds. 

As part of this effort, AWHC acquired 3,300+ acres of prime habitat in Nevada’s beautiful Carson Valley to serve as a pilot program for the project! Through this pilot, we’re working to set the conservation standard for wild horse and burro protection by preserving and restoring habitat and developing collaborative partnerships with federal and local governments to further land and wildlife conservation goals.

We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished together this year – but none of this would be possible without your support. We’re planning to go even further in 2024, and we need you with us to continue this momentum. Can you make a contribution to support these critical programs in 2024? If you chip in before Friday, you can help us unlock a 2X matching offer for our end-of-year fundraising and double the impact of your donation!

DONATE →

Thank you,

Team AWHC

 

A look back on our 2023 legislative wins

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Help us unlock a 2X match!
Can you help us unlock a 2X matching gift to help us continue our critical work saving wild horses and burros in 2024? We need to raise $50,000 before Friday at midnight to unlock this match.

CHIP IN →

Throughout 2023, we’ve secured some pretty incredible wins, furthering the wild horse and burro conservation cause. So with 2024 less than two weeks away, we’re going to take the next few days to look back on all the success we achieved together this year.

But first, we’d like to ask you to make a contribution towards our end-of-year goal. In case you missed it, all donations through December 31st will be matched up to $125,000, but only IF we raise the initial $50,000 we need before midnight this Friday! You can chip in here >>

HELP US UNLOCK
THE MATCH →

Today, we’re going to focus on the impact we’ve been able to make together both in Washington D.C. and in state legislatures across the country to protect our wild herds.

In Colorado, we achieved a major breakthrough with the passage of SB 23-275, The Wild Horse Project. This legislation established a dedicated working group in the state, tasked with enhancing on-range and off-range solutions for wild horse conservation. Additionally, the legislation allocated $1.5 million in state funding to support these efforts.

On Capitol Hill, we worked with our partners in Congress to introduce several critical bills that would advance humane reforms to the federal management of our nation’s wild herds, including:

  • The Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023 (H.R. 3656), which would finally ban costly and inhumane helicopter roundups of wild horses and burros;
    • The Supporting America’s Forgotten Equines Act (H.R. 3475), which would ban equine slaughter for human consumption in the U.S. and the export of horses for slaughter abroad;
    • And the Ejiao Act (H.R. 6021), which would ban the U.S. import of products containing Ejiao, a gelatin made from donkey hides.

And finally, AWHC secured the support of 77 Members of Congress to include protective language for wild horses and burros in the House and Senate Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills. The House passed its bill, which includes protection from slaughter and dedicated funding for fertility control. Further, it also directs the BLM to explore alternatives to helicopter roundups — marking the first time in history that Congress has addressed this issue! The Senate has not yet passed its final version of the funding bill.

AWHC’s legislative advocacy work is critical to securing a safe future for our wild herds, so they can live freely as they deserve. When we create partnerships with allies on the Hill and in state governments throughout the West, we create progress. This year’s wins for wild horses and burros are an example of just that. 

If you’re still with us in the fight to protect America’s wild horses and burros, will you donate whatever you can afford towards our end-of-year goal to help us continue this important work in 2024? If we raise $50,000 before midnight on Friday, we’ll unlock a generous 2X match from one of our major donors, meaning you can double our legislative impact next year!

DONATE NOW →

Thank you!

American Wild Horse Campaign

Celebrating the 52nd Anniversary of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Today we are celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the passage of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

Before delving into the remarkable story of “Wild Horse Annie,” the pioneer wild horse advocate, and her relentless efforts to pass this crucial law, that awarded federal protections to these beloved equines, we have an important ask of you. We’re approaching our end-of-year deadline to raise $200,000 and empower us to make 2024 a remarkable year. Can you chip in a donation of any amount today so we can continue our conservation work in the field, on the Hill, and in the courts in 2024?

CHIP IN

Velma B. Johnston, or Wild Horse Annie, was a tireless advocate for wild horses and burros, and her legacy lives on through the work AWHC does and through the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

Wild Horse Annie saw the ruthless and indiscriminate manner in which wild horses were being rounded up from public lands during the 1950s in Nevada. At that time, America’s wild horse population was in rapid decline, and many of these incredible animals were captured by “mustangers” for slaughter.

Not being one to sit on the sidelines, Wild Horse Annie took matters into her own hands. She organized a massive grassroots movement to bring attention to this issue. She brought Americans from across the country together to push for groundbreaking legislation. In fact, she mobilized so many people that wild horse protection was the second most popular issue that constituents wrote to Congress about in 1971.

Because of the work of Wild Horse Annie, Congress unanimously passed the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. This is the most important legislation for wild horses in the United States, and we continue to see its impact today. 

Today, 52 years later, the Act has been significantly weakened thanks to the lobbying efforts of special interest groups. That’s where AWHC comes in, our mission is to fulfill the promise made 52 years ago, but we can’t do it alone. With over 20,000 wild horses and burros targeted for roundups this year, our work has never been more important. Can you make a donation to help support our mission to continue the legacy Wild Horse Annie? >>

Our team has been working in the field to document the mistreatment of wild horses and burros, fighting to bring their stories to light, and litigating in the courts to protect these innocent animals. The thing is, we can’t do it alone.

Today, we’re asking you to join us in commemorating the legacy of Wild Horse Annie. It’s up to all of us to continue the work that she started protecting wild horses and burros. Will you please join us in our mission to conserve the West’s wild herds by making a donation of any amount to the American Wild Horse Campaign and help us hit our $200,000 fundraising goal?

CHIP IN

Thank you,

The American Wild Horse Campaign

P.S. Every donation you make will be MATCHED 2X up to $125,000 to help us hit our $200,000 end-of-year fundraising goal, but only if we can raise an initial $50,000 before next Friday. If we’re going to be able to take advantage of this opportunity, we need your help. You can make a donation of any amount today to help us unlock this match.

FWD: A major update on the BLM’s 2024 roundup plans

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We have a major update to share with you.

Last week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its updated roundup and removal schedule for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The agency is now planning an additional 22 roundups for FY 2024, raising the total number of wild horses and burros that will be targeted from 8,000 to over 20,000.

That’s over double the number of animals that were initially slated for capture. In fact, these updated figures would now match the number of wild horses and burros rounded up in FY 2020, which was a record year for roundups.

We stand ready to document this escalation and we’re going to continue to raise awareness, educate Congress, take legal action when we can, and set the standard for humane wild horse conservation. Your support will now be more important than ever as we prepare for what’s to come. 

In case you missed our email yesterday, we set a massive end-of-year goal to raise $200,000 in order to power our 2024 wild horse and burro conservation agenda. And today, we got confirmation that a generous donor has stepped up and pledged to match EVERY donation towards our end-of-year goal, up to $125,000.

MAKE A 2X CONTRIBUTION NOW

This is huge. This match means you have a chance to double the impact your contribution can make on our efforts to fight for wild horses and burros next year. And with over 20,000 wild horses and burros now targeted by the BLM in 2024, we can’t afford to waste this opportunity.

The thing is, this matching opportunity will only be unlocked after we’ve raised an initial $50,000 to prove we’ve got the support to reach our goal. So, we need you to step up. Will you help us reach our $200,000 end-of-year goal with a 2X matched donation today? It won’t be easy, but we know with your continued support, there’s nothing we can’t achieve for our wild herds.

HAVE YOUR GIFT DOUBLED

— Team AWHC

Take Action for Arizona’s Wild Horses

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We have both encouraging and concerning updates from Arizona to share with you.

First, the positive news: The recent lawsuit threatening the humane management of the Salt River wild horses was dismissed by the US District Court for the District of Arizona. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and trophy hunting groups. The United States Forest Service (USFS), responsible for the Tonto National Forest where the horses reside, successfully moved to dismiss the lawsuit, exposing factual inaccuracies in the CBD’s complaint. The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) and the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) also filed a motion to intervene, highlighting misinformation in the CBD complaint.

In October of this year, the judge granted the USFS’s motion to dismiss, but gave CDB 30 days to amend its complaint. On November 30, the 30-day window closed without action from CBD, resulting in the lawsuit being officially dismissed in the lower court. This victory ensures the continued protection of the Salt River wild horses and safeguards the successful humane management program.

Now, the unfortunate news: In the Apache Sitgreaves Forest, just 150 miles from the Tonto National Forest, the USFS shipped 45 captured Alpine wild horses to a notorious slaughter auction in Texas. Fortunately, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group and other organizations rallied together to find placement for all 45 horses. However, the USFS is continuing to roundup wild horses in an attempt to eradicate them from the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, meaning more of these magnificent animals are at risk of being shipped to kill pens unless the agency changes its deadly policy.

TAKE ACTION

Your voice can play a crucial role in safeguarding these beloved and historic animals. Join us in urging the USFS to adopt humane management practices that prioritize the protection and humane treatment of wild horses on our public lands.

TAKE ACTION

The American Wild Horse Campaign

Thank YOU!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

From the entire American Wild Horse Campaign team, thank you. 

This Giving Tuesday, we shattered records and raised $146,690.88, thanks to your support. We are touched by your generosity and your belief in our mission. Every cent of the money we raised will support the fight for the freedom and safety of America’s wild horses and burros. 

In 2023, your donations made it possible for AWHC to educate millions of Americans about the plight of our nation’s wild horses and burros, expose the realities of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) roundups, uncover inhumane conditions in BLM holding facilities, investigate the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), and so much more. 

We have an ambitious agenda for 2024 and we know we will make great strides, thanks to your generosity. We hope that you will continue to stand with AWHC and with wild horses and burros, and there are many ways to stay involved! Click this link to learn more about how you can take action to protect wild horses and burros. 

From all of us at the American Wild Horse Campaign, thank you again. We can’t do this work without you, and we are deeply honored by your support. 

With gratitude, 


Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Campaign

Giving Tuesday is TOMORROW!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Giving Tuesday is TOMORROW!
Matching Fund: unlocked
We need all hands on deck to help us hit our $100,000 fundraising goal for Giving Tuesday. Can you chip in right away?

Chip in →

We can’t believe it. Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, and it’s our biggest fundraising day of the year.

This year, we set an ambitious goal to raise $100,000 through our Giving Tuesday efforts so we can continue to do what we do best: conserve wild horses and burros on our public lands. Can you add a contribution below to help us hit our goal?

Chip in →

What’s more, a generous donor has stepped up to match every contribution up to our $100,000 goal, giving us 2X the impact for Giving Tuesday. This is the best possible time to donate to the American Wild Horse Campaign because your donation will have double the impact. 

Your donation will:

Double the impact on our work observing and documenting Bureau of Land Management roundups. This means more resources to monitor, document, and advocate for the humane treatment of these animals, ensuring their safety and well-being during these inhumane capture operations.

Double the impact on our work to amplify awareness about the plight of wild horses and burros through social and traditional media coverage.

Double the impact on our work fighting in the courts to defend the rights and habitats of wild horses and burros, standing firm against violations of the laws enacted to protect them.

Double the impact on our work urging federal and state lawmakers to enact policies that strengthen protections for wild horses and burros, and promote sustainable and humane management practices.

Double the impact saving wild horses and burros. 

With Giving Tuesday just a few hours away, we’re asking you to step up NOW and chip in what you can to help us continue saving wild horses and burros. Our team is ready to lead the fight, but we can’t do it alone. Your support is key and with this match, it goes even further. Will you please help us keep the momentum going by donating ahead of Giving Tuesday?

Chip in $20
($40 impact) →
Chip in $35
($70 impact) →
Chip in $50
($100 impact) →
Chip in more →

Thank you for supporting our critical work.

Team AWHC

Giving Tuesday is just TWO days away!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Our BIGGEST fundraising day of the year is just over 48 hours away. And we’ve got great news – last week, we raised $35,000 towards Giving Tuesday and unlocked a 2X matchfrom one of our generous donors!

Every single donation towards our $100,000 Giving Tuesday goal will be matched, meaning you can DOUBLE your impact. Please help us get a head start on our goal with a contribution now! >>

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL!

As we gear up for Giving Tuesday, we’re setting the stage for our work in 2024. Achieving our $100,000 goal is more than just a number; it means having the resources to support and continue all of our vital programs that defend and protect wild horses and burros. And next year, our work will be more important than ever.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is gearing up to continue its cruel helicopter roundups across the West, posing a serious threat to the freedom and safety of thousands of wild horses and burros. These roundups often leave these animals traumatized, and many sustain serious injuries while trying to evade capture. Help us fight back. >>

This year, far too many innocent wild horses and burros, including many young foals, lost their lives thanks to government mismanagement. Once captured, these magnificent creatures are crammed into overburdened government-holding facilities where they face inhumane conditions, disease, injury, and death. Even worse, they are at risk of entering the slaughter pipeline through the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP).

Your support this Giving Tuesday can help us fight back. Hitting this $100,000 goal would help power:

  • Our direct rescue efforts to track and rescue victims of the AIP before they’re shipped to slaughter;
  • Our investigations work to uncover the truth about how our wild horses and burros are treated during roundups and in holding;
  • Our expanding fertility control programs that are proving to the BLM, Congress, and the public that there IS a better way to manage our wild herds;
  • Our advocacy work in Congress and state legislatures across the country to pass legislation that strengthens protections for wild horses and burros,
  • And so much more.

This Giving Tuesday, let’s make a real impact together. Your contribution can make a world of difference for the future of these magnificent animals. So will you join us in standing up for wild horses and burros? Remember, every donation that comes in before midnight on Tuesday will be doubled, so you can 2X your impact for 2024!

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL!

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Campaign

How we’re fighting for Wyoming’s wild herds – and what you can do to help

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

In just a few days, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is set to begin an inhumane and unnecessary roundup of Wyoming’s McCullough Peaks wild horses.

This bait trap operation would remove up to 41 innocent mustangs from their home and would threaten the genetic health and longevity of this historic wild horse herd. We need to speak up against this disastrous plan before it’s too late.

That’s why we’ve been ramping up our awareness efforts, both in Wyoming and nationwide, to stop the BLM from moving forward with the McCullough Peaks roundup.

We’ve launched billboards in Cody, Wyoming just outside of where the McCullough Peaks wild horses live:

We’ve also launched billboards in Cheyenne, Wyoming where BLM leadership is located, and mobile billboards in Washington, DC which are driving around the National Mall — including to the U.S. Department of the Interior — to pressure policymakers into action:

To bolster our awareness, we are also running ads in local newspapers, such as the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Casper Star-Tribune to spread the word about this pointless and cruel roundup. And finally, we launched TV ads on streaming services to bring national awareness to this issue.

WATCH THE SPOT

We’re doing all we can to make sure the McCullough Peaks wild horses stay wild and free – but we need your help. Here’s how you can help STOP the roundup of the McCullough Peaks wild horses:

  1. Send an email to the BLM, DOI, and Wyoming leadership by visiting keepwywyld.com
  2. Make the Calls:
  • Nada Culver, BLM Deputy Director: 202-255-6979
  • Andrew Archuleta, BLM Wyoming State Director: 307-775-6001
  • Tracy Stone Manning, BLM Director: 202-208-3801 (press 0 to be directed)

You can say: “Hi, my name is [NAME] and I am calling to ask that you please halt the removal of the McCullough Peaks wild horse herd. This removal does not need to happen right now and should at least wait until after winter to assess the condition of the population.”

  1. Click here to send an automated Tweet/X to BLM and DOI leadership

Thank you for stepping up. Together, we can stop this disastrous plan and protect this iconic wild horse herd.

– AWHC Team

P.S. We’ve got one week left to reach our $100,000 Giving Tuesday goal, and every donation made between now and then will be 2x MATCHED. Will you chip in and help us reach our goal so we can keep fighting for wild horses and burros in 2024?

Bringing the wild into your home

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

My name is Kimerlee Curyl, and I’m a wild horse fine art photographer and advocate. I have been involved with the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) since its inception well over a decade ago. It has been my honor to also be an AWHC Ambassador, using my imagery not only to assist in AWHC’s advocacy efforts but also to raise funding to support its mission to protect these beautiful animals.

SHOP 20% OFF, 20% TO AWHC NOW THROUGH DEC 8

Wild horses are threatened by mismanagement and private interests that seek to eradicate them from the West, so these animals need powerful, professional advocates in their corner. I was proud to join AWHC this year as a co-plaintiff in its lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over its plan to eradicate two of my favorite herds in the Red Desert of Wyoming and drastically reduce the population of another. This area is already meeting the thriving natural ecological balance and allowing this to happen would set a horrific precedent for the future of not only Wyoming’s wild horses but every wild horse herd across the West.

AWHC is tirelessly and ceaselessly fighting on behalf of our wild herds, serving as their voice. This is why, beginning today through December 8, I am offering 20 percent off my fine art prints, with 20 percent of the proceeds going to AWHC, and the fight to protect Wyoming’s wild herds.

SHOP 20% OFF, 20% TO AWHC NOW THROUGH DEC 8

Alongside AWHC, I am dedicated to shedding light on the challenges that wild horses and burros face. I aspire to use my art as a medium to advocate for mustangs and burros, their preservation, and the conservation of their habitats on our public lands.

Each one of my pieces is designed to bring a touch of the wild right into your home and to spark meaningful conversations about our wild herds and the organizations and individuals advocating for their conservation.

SHOP 20% OFF, 20% TO AWHC NOW THROUGH DEC 8

Watching Wyoming’s wild horses run free for all these years has been one of my greatest joys.  Supporting AWHC is one of the most effective ways to make sure that they continue on running – for generations to come.

Stay Wild,

Kimerlee Curyl
Fine Art Photographer

SHOP NOW →

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